Box-forming machine



y 7, 1940; M. A. WATERS Re. 21,445

BQX-FORMING MACHINE Original Filed June 22, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 MarshaIIAM/afars. Q

y 1 M. A. \NIATERS Re. 21,445

BOX-FORMING MACHINE Original Filed June 22, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 f Marshall AMaiars- May 7,, 1940- M. A. WATERS Box-rename MACHINE Original Filed June 22, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I Marshall Awaiers- Moi/w W y 7, 1940- M. A. WATERS Box-FORMING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Puma 22. 1935 Marsh 5111 AWafers- Reissued May 7, 1940 Re,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOX-FORIVIING MACHINE Marshall A. Waters, River Forest, 111., assignor to Mary R. Claif and C. Lloyd Claff, trustees Original No. 2,077,913, dated April 20, 1937, Serial No. 27,876, June 22, 1935. Application for reissue April 18, 1939, Serial No. 268,637

16 Claims. (Cl. 9344.1)

The present invention relates to box-forming cordance with the present invention, the same machines, and more particularly to machines for being as indicated generally by line I| of Figfolding and securing the sides of a paper box ure 3; Figure 2 is a transverse fragmentary secblank together. tion taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1; Figure 3 The invention has primarily for its object to is a similar View taken on the line 33 of Figure 5 provide a comparatively simple, inexpensive, and 1, parts being broken back to more clearly illusefilcient machine of maximum capacity, in which trate other structural features; Figure 4 is a the gluing and various folding operations are vertical fragmentary section through the gluing automatically and progressively performed as the mechanism, the same being taken on the line 44 blank is carried through the machine. of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a detail section taken on 10 Incidental to the foregoing, a more specific the line 55 of Figure 2; Figure 6 is a fragmenobject of the invention is to provide a machine tary transverse section taken on the line 6-45 in which the blanks are delivered to a rotary of Figure-1; Figure 7 is a plan view of a typical carrier, that conveys them through tucking, foldblank handled by the present machine; Figure 8 u ing, and clamping mechanisms, which automatiis a similar view of the tucking members for turncally complete the forming of the boxes that ing up the side tabs; Figure 9 is a diagrammatic are then discharged from the carrier. view of the side folding plates; Figure 10 dia- A further object resides in the provision of grammatically illustrates the manner of folding highly novel means for selecting and feeding the the ends of the box; Figure 11 is a similar view blanks in the forming mechanisms, including sucillustrating the gripping mechanism for turning 20 tion means for separating the lowermost blank over and securing the ends of the box; and Figfrom the stack, whereby the same is delivered ure 12 is a fragmentary detail illustrating the to the feeding mechanism. means for discharging the completed boxes from Another object is to provide a novel form of the carrier. 26 gluing mechanism for applying adhesive to por- Referring now more particularly to the accomg tions of the blanks, panying drawings, a complete machine is illus- A still further object resides in the provision trated for feeding individual blanks from a magof rotary grippers for effecting final adherence azine or stack, gluing portions of the blank, and of the blanks upon completion of the forming then conveying the same through mechanisms 30 operations. for progressively performing the operations nec- 30 It is also an object of the invention to provide essary for completing the box. However, parnovel means for discharging the completed boxes ticular attention is directed to the fact that the from the carrier, including shifting of the gripsalient features of the invention reside in the ping control means to quickly release and disnovel forming mechanisms and means for concharge the boxes. veying the blanks therethrough. Therefore, the 35 Lastly, it is an object to provide for adjust invention is not to be limited or restricted to the ment of the gluing and forming mechanisms to specific means disclosed for feeding or gluing accommodate blanks of different characteristics the blanks, as this may be accomplished in other and dimensions. ways without departing from the spirit of the 40 With the above and other objects in view, invention. 40 which will appear as the description proceeds, Considering now that form of the invention the invention resides in the novel construction, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the combination, and arrangement of parts, substannumeral I designates generally a frame comtially as hereinafter described, and more particuprising the longitudinal side struts 2 connected larly defined by the appended claims, it being by suitable transverse ends 3 supported upon 45 understood that such changes in the precise emlegs 4. p bodiment of the herein disclosed invention may For the purpose of explanation, that end of the be made as come within the scope of the claims. machine into which the blanks are fed will be In the accompanying drawings is illustrated referred to as the front, and the opposite end 0 one complete example of the physical embodithe rear.

'ment of the present invention constructed ac- As best shownin Figures 1 and 6, a stack of cording to the best mode ss far devised for the blanks B, such as illustrated in Figure '7, are practical application of the principles thereof. placed upon the parallel tracks 5, between suitable In the drawings, Figure l is a longitudinal secupright channels 6,which are carried bythe transtional view through a mach ne construced in acverse shafts 1 secured to side frames 8 mounted 55 upon the longitudinal struts 2. Between the tracks 5 is a chain conveyor 9, which may be provided with one or more carriers In that pick up the lowermost blank supported between the tracks, and convey the same to a gluing mechanism G, the carriers I!) being provided with an overhanging tail III, which engages the rear end of the blank to force the same along the tracks 5, after leaving the conveyor, to the position in which they are engaged by the carrier, as will be hereinafter described.

In order to feed one blank at a time from the bottom of the stack, a highly novel mechanism is provided for selecting and delivering the lowermost blank to the parallel tracks 5. This is accomplished by means of a plurality of spaced fingers ll, carried by a plate l2, which in turn is intermittently raised by means of a cam l3 that engages the roller I4 suitably connected with the plate I2. Cooperating with the fingers II are the suction cups l5, carried by a bracket l5 which is also intermittently raised and lowered by means of the cam I1, that engages the roller l8 connected with the bracket l5 by the stud I9.

Pivotally connected to the sides of the rear channel 6, as best shown in Figures 1 and 6, are a pair of arms 20, which are connected by a yoke 2| with the piston 22 of a suction cylinder 23 secured to the rear face of the channel, whereby desired oscillation of the arms 29 is obtained. Secured to the lower ends of the arms 29 is a divider blade 24, which, when projected under the stack of blanks B, serves to support the same above the tracks 5.

In order to deliver the lowermost blank to the tracks 5, whereby the same can be picked up by the conveyor 9, the cams I3 and I1 are timed to simultaneously raise the fingers II and the vacuum cups l5, respectively, after which the suction cylinder 23 operates to oscillate the arms 29 and withdraw the divider blade 24 from below the stack of blanks. The suction cups are then lowered by means of the cam l1, causing the lowermost blank to be bowed downwardly, as disclosed in Fig. 6, which permits sufiicient clearance between the lowermost blank of the stack to allow entrance of the divider blade 24, after which the supporting fingers II are lowered through the operation of the cam l3, to permit the lowermost blank to drop upon the tracks 5. The suction in the cups I5 is then broken, and the blank is conveyed forwardly by the carrier I9, and delivered to a position above the glue pots 25, best shown in Figures 4 and 5.

The glue pots 25 are mounted on suitable brackets 26 carried by the side struts 2 of the frame I, and are transversely adjustable to accommodate blanks of different dimensions. At the same time the tracks 5, which are carried by the glue pots 25, are also transversely adjusted, and in addition to such adjustment the tracks 5 may be further adjusted on the supporting angles 21, which serve to connect the tracks to the glue pots.

In that form of blank for which the present machine is designed, as illustrated in Figure 7, it is merely necessary to apply a coating of adhesive material 28 to the inner faces of the side tabs 29, and the folds 39 of the ends of the blank. This is accomplished by means of dippers 3 I, best shown in Figure 4, and comprising arms 32 vertically guided by the studs 33, which are slidably journaled in bosses carried by the glue pots 25. Carried by the arms 32 are the studs 34, which are connected to eccentrics 35 mounted upon the transverse shafts 35 and driven by sprockets 31 connected by chains with the main drive. The shafts 36 are journaled in the side frames, and also in a depending bracket 38 carried by the glue pots, and inasmuch as the shafts 36 are held against longitudinal movement with relation to the glue pots, the shafts and eccentrics 35 are simultaneously adjustable with the glue pots, it being merely necessary to release the sprockets 31 when the glue pots are transversely adjusted.

As best shown in Figure 4, the arms of the dippers 3| are provided with longitudinal plates 39, which, upon downward movement of the arms, are submerged in the adhesive contained in the glue pots, and upon being elevated they engage the bottoms of the blanks B, supported on the tracks 5, to impart a coating of adhesive material to portions of the blank, as indicated in Figure 7.

As heretofore explained, the feeding and gluing mechanisms described are considered preferable, due to their simplicity and efficiency, but it is to be understood that these may be varied without departing from the invention as pertains to the carrier and forming mechanisms about to be described.

Prior to applying the adhesive to the blanks B, as heretofore explained, the same are gripped by a rotatable carrier 40, which includes a plurality of radial arms 4 I, each of which is provided with a supporting plate 42 adapted to engage the blanks B as they rest on the tracks 5 above the glue pots 25. Pivotally connected to each arm 4| is a bell-crank lever 43, which carries a gripping plate 44, that cooperates with the supporting plate 42 of the adjacent arm, to firmly grip a blank and carry the same through the various forming mechanisms to be described. The bell-cranks 43 are actuated by an internal cam 45, which is journaled on a transverse shaft 46 to which the carrier 49 is secured. Aside from a limiting shifting actuation of the cam 45, the same is relatively stationary with respect to rotation of the carrier 49, and is merely shifted slightly at intermittent periods to effect a quick release and discharge of the finished containers from the supporting plates 42, as will be hereinafter described.

The cam is so generated as to cause each gripper plate to engage a blank supported on the tracks 5 above the glue pots 25, after which the blank is carried through the forming mechanism, indicated generally as F and comprising arcuate front and rear plates 41 and 48, respectively, which serve to turn up the sides 49 of the blank (Figure 9). As best shown in Figure 1, the plates 41 and 48 are secured to the arms 59 and 5|, respectively, which are carried by the brackets 52, longitudinally adjustable on the bed plates 53, in order to accommodate boxes of different widths.

At substantially the same time the side walls 49 are engaged by the plates 41 and 49, the end tabs are bent inwardly by the tuckers 54, which engage the tabs in the manner illustrated in Figure 8. The tuckers 54 are adjustably carried by the arms and 5|, which also carry the side folding plates 41 and 48. After the tabs 29 are tucked inwardly and the side walls 49 folded upwardly, the ends of the blank are engaged by the forming plates 55, which turn the ends upwardly in the manner disclosed in Figure 10. The plates 55 are also adjustably carried by brackets 56, mounted for longitudinal adjustment on the bed plates 53, similar to the brackets 52.

Next, the blank is carried to a horizontal position at the rear of the machine, in which the protruding ends 51 of the blank are turned inwardly over the tabs 29 to complete the formation of the box (Figure 11). of rotary grippersiifl, positioned upon opposite sides of the carrier, and journaled in the heads 59, which carry the bed plates 53, and which are transversely adjustable on the vertical brackets 60, by means of hand wheels 61 secured to the shafts 62 journaled in the brackets 50, and having threaded. engagement with the bosses 63carried by the heads 59. I'he brackets 60 are vertically adjustable in the ways 64 on the main frame I, whereby the grippers 58 may be adjusted both transversely and vertically to accommodate boxes of different depth and length. This is accomplished by the vertical shafts BI) revolubly connected with the brackets 50. and having threaded engagement in brackets 9| secured. to the side frames 2. Hand-wheels 82 are provided for rotating the shafts 9Hv For actuating the rotary grippers 58, their rear stub shafts 65 are provided with spur gears 65, which are engaged by oscillating sectors 51, pivotally carried by the heads 59. The sectors 61 are provided with integral arms 68, which carry the rollers 59 projecting into the horizontalslots 15 formed in a vertical reciprocative head H. Obviously, as the head I! reciprocates, oscillatory movement will be imparted to the sectors 61, which in turn actuate the grippers 58.

The reciprocative head H is connected to a bracket 12 by spaced rods 13, while the bracket is slidably mounted upon a guide 14 carried by the rear end 3 of the mainframe :l, as best shown in Figure l.

Reciprocative movement is imparted to the bracket 12, and the head 1!, by means of an inma portion of the main frame, and which engages a roller 12 carried by the bracket 12.

chine is taken ofi of the main transverse drive shaft H positioned at the rear of the machine, and connected with the cam shaft 11 through the beveled gears l3.

The carrier shaft 45 is intermittently rotated by a conventional Geneva drive, including a star wheel 19 mounted on the stub shaft 80 carried by one of the side frame members 2, and. as best shown in Figure 5, the star wheel, which is of the locking type, is intermittently actuated by a pin 8! carried by a revolving arm mounted on the driven shaft 82, which is also journaled in the side frame 2. Formed integral with the arm 81 is a mutilated hub 83, which serves to lock the star wheel against movement intermediate its operations, in the usual manner. A suitable gear connection between the shaft 8!! and the main carrier shaft 45, indicated in dotted lines in Figure 5, imparts intermittent rotary movement to the carrier.

Considering now the mechanism for discharging the boxes from the carrier, which operation takes place as each arm reaches its lowermost position, particular attention is directed to Figures l and 2, wherein it will be noted that the driven shaft 82 is also provided with a cam 34, which oscillates a bell-crank 35, the upper end of which is provided with a stud 8S engaging a forked arm mounted upon a sleeve 45' projecting from the cam 45. It will be apparent This is accomplished by means ternal cam 15 mounted upon a shaft 18 journaled The drive for the various parts of the mafrom the foregoing that actuation of the forked arm 81 will cause the cam 45 to oscillate through a limited arc, and inasmuch as the cam 45 controls the operation of the bell-crank levers 43, which effect gripping of the blanks on the carrier arms, shifting of the cam 45 necessarily effects operation of the levers 43.

However, were the cam 45 to remain stationary, actuation of the crank levers 45 would be gradual, and inasmuch as it is desired to effect a quick discharge of the completed boxes from the carrier arms, after they reach a'predetermined position and are at rest, preferably at the bottom of their arc. the cam 45 is shifted in the manner described to cause the lowermost arm 43 to move quickly away from its cooperating supporting plate 42. This action not only releases the box, but positively strips the same from the supporting plate, in that each arm 43 has adjustably mounted thereon a bracket 88, which in turn carries an adjustable finger 89 normally- -positioned behind the adjacent supporting plate. 42, as best shown in Figure 12. As the arm 43 is rotated outwardly, the finger 89 engages the upper edge of the box, and strips the same from the plate 42, discharging the box into a suitable receptace, or conveyor, not shown. Notches 42 formed in the supporting plate 42 permit the fingers 89 to pass by the plates.

' Drive is imparted to the shaft 82 through a. gear, and chain and sprocket connection, with the main drive shaft :11, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1.

From the foregoing explanation, considered in connection with the'accompanying drawings, it will be readily apparent that a comparatively simple and eflicient box-forming machine has been provided, which is positive in its operation,

and capable of maximum capacity, due to the various operations taking place not only progressively but simultaneously, as, for instance, gripping of the blank by the carrier, forming, and discharging the completed box, these operations being performed at various stations of the multiple carrier.

It is also to be understood that any number of radial carrier arms-may be employed, as well as a plurality of carriers positioned side by side, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

While one form of box blank has been illustrated, it is to be understood that the present machine is capable of handling other types of blanks, such as a blank in which the end flaps 51 are eliminated. In that case, the grippers 58 woulcl'still function to clamp the ends of the blank and the tabs 29 into tight engagement while the adhesive is setting.

Attention is directed to the fact that the machine iscompletely adjustable within predetermined limits, thus rendering it capable of handling blanks of various dimensions, without necessitating replacement of parts, as generally required in conventional. machines.

Nhile it is considered that the operation of the machine may be fullyunderstood from the exthe conveyor chain 9. As the conveyor chain leaves the tracks on its return stretch, the tails VIII of the carriers l0 engage the edge of the blank and shove the same forward to'a predetermined position over the glue pots. Operation of the dippers is so timed as to then apply a coating of adhesive to desired portions of the blanks, after which they are engaged between the supporting plates 42 and thegripping members 44 of the carrier. The carrier is then intermittently rotated one quarter of a circle, which carries the blanks through the forming mechanism F. The first operation is effected by the tuckers 54 andthe front and rear forming plates 41 and 48, and results in turning in the tabs 29 and folding up the sides 49 of the blank. Following the foregoing operation, the ends of the box are engaged by the forming plates 55, and are thus bent upwardly against the tabs 29.

When the carrier reaches a horizontal position at the rear of the machine, its movement is stopped through operation of the star wheel, and, iwhile the carrier is located in this position, the grippers 58 are oscillated to fold over the protruding ends 51, and securely grip them into tight engagement with the tabs 29 and end folds The carrier remains in this position until the adhesive has set, after which the grippers are rotated to their normal position. The carrier then continues its travel until the arm carrying the completed box reaches its lowermost position, at which. point the box is released and discharged, as heretofore described.

Having thus explained the invention in considerable detail, it is understood that various changes are contemplated in structural and mechanical design, without departing from the spirit of the invention, the salient features of which reside in the novel feeding, gluing, carrying, forming, and discharging mechanisms.

What I claim is:

1. In a box-forming machine, a feeding mechanism, a magazine positionedabove the feeding mechanism for receiving a stack of paper blanks, means for separating the lowermost blank from the stack and delivering the same to the feeding means, means for applying adhesive to portions of the blank, a rotary carrier for receiving said blanks, means for actuating the conveyor stepby-step, and means for engaging the blanks while on the carrier to form the same into completed boxes.

2; In a box-forming machine, a feeding mechanism, a magazine positioned above the feeding mechanism for receiving a stack of paper blanks, means for separating the lowermost blank from the stack and delivering the same to the feeding means, means for applying adhesive to portions of the blank, a rotary carrier for receiving said blanks, means for actuating the conveyor stepby-step, means for engaging the blanks while on the carrier to form the same into completed boxes, and means for stripping the completed boxes from the carrier.

3. In a box-forming machine, a rotary carrier for the blanks, means forimparting intermittent rotation to said carrier, forming means comprising stationary plates for engaging the sides and ends of the blank while on the carrier to fold the same upwardly from the bottom of the blank, and rotary grippers for engaging the ends of the blank to complete formation of the box.

4. In a box-forming machine, a rotary carrier for the box blanks, means for actuating the carrier step-by-step, means for gripping the blanks on the carrier, means for folding the blank while the carrier is-intmotion, and means on the carrier for stripping the formed boxes from the carrier while the latter is at rest.

5. Ina box-forming machine, a rotary carrier for the boxblanks, means for actuating the carrier step-by-step, means on the carrier for gripping the blanks thereto, means for performing various. forming operations on the blank, means on the carrier for stripping the formed boxes therefrom, and mechanism for actuating the gripping and, stripping means while the carrier is at rest.

6. In a box-forming machine, a rotary carrier for the box blanks, means for actuating the carrier step-by-step, means for gripping the blanks on the carrier, means for performing certain of the forming operations while the carrier is in motion and other forming operations while the carrier is at rest, and means on the carrier for stripping the boxes from the carrier.

'7. In a box-forming machine, a rotary carrier for the blanks, means for imparting step-bystep rotation to the carrier, means for directly engaging and clamping the blanks on the carrier, means for stripping the formed boxfrom the carrier, a cam normally stationary during movement of the carrier forcausing the clamping means to hold the blanks on the carrier, and means for imparting intermittent oscillatory movement to the cam when the carrier is at rest to impart clamping and releasing movements to the clamping means and to cause the stripper to strip the formed box from the carrier.

8. In a box-forming machine, a rotary carrier having a plurality of blank supporting members, means for imparting step-by-step rotation to the carrier, grippers for engaging and clamping the blanks to the members, strippers for stripping the formed boxes from the carrier, and a cam for actuating both the grippers and the strippers when the carrier is at rest.

9. In a box-forming machine, a rotary carrier for the blanks, box-forming mechanism for folding the blank, means for rotating the carrier, a

plurality of supports on the carrier for supporting the blanks, grippers movably mounted on the carrier for engaging and clamping the blanks to the supports, a normally stationary cam for actuating the grippers, and a second cam for imparting independent limited oscillatory movements to said first mentioned cam to impart clamping and releasing movementsto the grippers.

10. In a box-forming machine, a rotarycarrier for the blanks, means for imparting stepby-step rotation to the carrier, supports on the carrier for supporting a box blank, a gripper and stripper unit having gripping and stripping devices spaced from one another to receive the box blank therebetween, and means for moving the unit in one direction to cause the gripper to clamp a blank to the support and in the opposite direction to cause the gripper to release the formed box and the stripper to strip the same from the carrier.

11. In a box-forming machine, a rotary carrier comprising a plurality of arms each having a blank supporting plate, the plate being provided with a marginal slot, a bell-crank lever pivotally mounted on each arm, a gripper on the lever for clamping a blank to the supporting plate, a stripper mounted on the arm and arranged to pass through said. marginal slot from one side of the supporting plate to the other for stripping the formed box from the carrier, means for actuating the bell-crank levers, and means for imparting rotary movement to the carrier.

12. In a box-forming machine, a main frame, a rotary carrier mounted thereon, means for clamping box blanks to the carrier, mechanism for rotating the carrier to present the blanks to the box-forming devices, supports on the frame adjustable in a direction normal to the plane of rotation of the carrier, and fixed turning devices independently adjustable on the supports for forming the side and end portions of varying sizes of box blanks.

13. In a box-forming machine, a main frame, a rotary carrier mounted thereon, means for clamping box blanks to the carrier, mechanism for rotating the carrier to present the blanks to the box-forming devices, vertically adjustable members carried by the frame, supports carried by the members and adjustable in a direction normal to the plane of rotation of the carrier, blank forming devices comprising normally fixed turning devices adjustable on the supports for turning the sides and ends of varying sizes of box blanks, and supplementary movable turning devices mounted on said supports for performing a supplementary turning operation on the ends of the blanks.

14. In a box-forming machine, a rotary carrier for the box blanks, means for actuating the carrier step-by-step, means for performing forming operations on the blank including devices for turning in the ends of the blank, means for imparting rotary movements to said devices comprising intermeshing toothed members, one of said members benig rigidly connected to one of said devices, a pivoted arm for actuating the other of said members, a slotted head for actuating the arm, and means for reciprocating the head.

15. In a box-forming machine, a main frame, a rotary carrier for the box blanks, means for actuating the carrier, a Vertically adjustable head on the frame, a support carried by the head and adjustable thereon in a direction normal to the plane of rotation of the carrier, devices mounted on the support for turning in the end of the box blank, a slotted member, means for imparting reciprocatory movements to said member, and means positioned in the slot and connected to one of said devices for actuating the same.

16. In a box-forming machine, a rotary carrier for the blanks, means for imparting intermittent rotation to the carrier, forming means comp-rising stationary devices for engaging the sides and ends of the blank while on the carrier to fold the same upwardly from the bottom of the blank when the carrier is in motion, and movable means for engaging and turning the ends of the blank to fold the same inwardly toward the bottom of the blank when the carrier is at rest.

MARSHALL A. WATERS. 

